Laura Harder, CSPP Clinical Psychology Student

Laura Harder Aversa is a fifth-year doctoral student in the CSPP San Diego Clinical Psychology PhD program with an emphasis in health psychology. Laura has worked closely with her faculty
advisor, Jill Stoddard, PhD, and researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of California
San Diego to carry out the research for her dissertation, “Health-related quality
of life in veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and tobacco
dependence.”

Laura was awarded a two-year, $60,000 grant in 2010 from the Tobacco-Related Disease
Research Program to support the project. Laura successfully defended her dissertation
in February 2012, and recently had two papers accepted for publication from the project:

Laura is currently a psychology intern at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.
She hopes to continue to work in a clinical and research capacity with veterans struggling
with PTSD, addictions, and health problems as she transitions into professional practice.